Each Wednesday, PowerMizzou.com publisher Gabe DeArmond and recruiting editor Pete Scantlebury will answer questions from subscribers in our Tiger Mailbag. This feature will allow for longer, more in-depth answers than you may get on the message board on a daily basis. To have your question in next week's mailbag, send an email to Gabe at [email protected] On to this week's inquiries:

TurkeyTom22 asks: Just for fun, if you had to guess right now based on past performance, projection and talent, on this current roster who do you think the 3 highest drafted players will be, and when will they be drafted?

I think Zaviar Gooden is an NFL player. I'm not smart enough to guess what round to be honest with you, but if there's one guy on this team who could have a breakout year and leave early, I think it's Gooden. I think Dominique Hamilton is drafted as well, probably fairly high based on his position. And I think Kip Edwards has a chance to be an NFL cornerback. This is all ignoring the guy I think has a great shot to be the highest drafted of them all. But Sheldon Richardson has to officially get to campus first.

tigermaul3 asks: I think most of us are looking at the Arizona State game as this teams chance to prove themselves on a national stage. If you could, please take a look at that matchup and give us your opinions on the game.

I'm on record as saying I don't quite get the Missouri fan paranoia over this game. The Sun Devils bring back 20 starters. But they were 6-6 last year. Missouri brings back 17 starters and was 10-3. Two years ago, the Tigers went on the road on a Friday night and beat a Nevada team that is better, in my opinion, than this Arizona State team. I'm not saying Missouri can't lose. It could. But if the Tigers do lose this game, to me, it's a sign that the program has taken a bit of a step back from where it's been the last few years. This is a game Missouri could lose, but should win.

mizzou606 asks: What are the odds that Texas' greed coupled with Beebe as Commissioner spell an end to the Big 12 conference before the new tv contracts ends?

If I had an answer to that question, I'd head back to Vegas and get rich quick. The bottom line is this: If the Horns are allowed to show high school games on the Longhorn Network, the Big 12 is going to blow up. If they aren't, the league will stay together, at least for a while. I don't think A&M has the guts (or the ability) to leave UT. But if the Big 12/NCAA/ESPN is going to give the Horns such an obvious advantage over everyone else, that will be the straw that broke the camel's back. The Big 12 will implode and UT will go independent. Contrary to popular belief, it's not Missouri that has to worry in that scenario. The Tigers will end up in a major conference somewhere. So will Kansas, in my opinion. But if I'm a fan of Baylor, Kansas State, Texas Tech or Iowa State, I'm hoping like heck the NCAA says the Horns can't show high school games.

jncatch asks: Out of the top three to five offers in basketball (ranking wise) who do you see committing? Also what is the backstory on this mystery man (sorry I'm new to the board and don't know the story)?

I don't like to go predicting commitments on the record. It comes back to burn me. Missouri is in good shape with Rodney Purvis from what I hear. Demarquise Johnson has them in the top two. Shawn Smith loves Missouri (I'd be surprised if they didn't land him). I think the class will be filled from a list of those three plus these guys: Danuel House, Chicken Knowles, Steve Taylor, Ryan Rosburg, Laimonas Chatkevicius, Winston Shepard and Marcus Hunt.